Wound Aerobic (Bacterial Culture)

 LTD Wound Aerobic: Specimen Collection Version 7

Specimen Collection: Wound Aerobic (Bacterial Culture)

NOTE: For superficial, ulcer, nodule, subcutaneous tissue, lesion, abscess, and skin wounds.

A gram stain smear will be routinely reported on specimens labeled as “wound” cultures. The

gram stain smear results indicate the type of inflammatory response, presence of bacteria,

and quality of specimen submitted for culture. A wound order is only for the aerobic bacterial

culture. An Anaerobic culture must be ordered separately, if needed (See Specimen

collection for anaerobes).

Equipment: ESwab Collection kit, alcohol pad or chlorhexadine, sterile gauze, betadine

solution.

Intact skin: Cleanse the skin first with chlorhexidine. Let dry for 30 seconds. Remove the

swab from the collection kit package.

Swab the surface of the skin. Break off swab at the red score line into the transport tube

containing 1.0mL liquid media.

Non-intact skin: Cleanse the surface of the wound and surrounding skin with betadine.

Remove overlying debris. Remove the swab from the collection kit package.

If exudate is present from an ulcer or nodule, collect it with the sterile swab. If a vesicle is

present, collect both fluid and cells from the base of the lesion.

Break off swab at the red score line into the transport tube containing 1.0mL liquid media.

Needle or syringe aspiration: Cleanse the skin with an iodine scrub of at least one minute.

The procedure is performed by a physician. Do not transport syringe with needle

attached. Replace needle with plastic cap.

Labeling: Properly label specimens with at least two patient identifiers, such as name,

medical record number, and date of birth

References:

Bowden, V.R., Smith Greenberg, C.(2008). Pediatric Nursing Procedures, 2nd Ed.

Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Isenberg, H.D. (2004). Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Volume 2. Washington,

D.C.: The ASM Press.

ESwab technical insert #0086 , Becton, Dickinson and Company, Sparks, Maryland,

06/2008